Mr. Humphreys nervously adjusted his tie and glanced at his watch “We can begin shortly after your guardian arrives” he said to the room. Christian's head jerks up at that, giving the aging man his full attention. The intensity of their stare conveys a silent message between the two. I reach for Christian's hand “Chrissy, who are we waiting for ?” “Don't call me that” he responds sharply. What I silently mouthed as the door opened. I don't turn to acknowledge the people entering. The sound of cheaply made heels assault my ears. I'm not worried in the least between me and Chrissy this will be over in 20 minutes tops. A blush starts to creep up my neck as I picture how the rest of my day alone with Christian would be spent. Those deliciously depraved thoughts were destroyed the moment I realized Christian had destroyed our united front. In his place seats her; my fearful green eyes meet the disinterested browns of my half-sister. A wicked smile played on her lips before she gave the other invader of my peace Mrs. Kyle; her full attention. Mrs. Kyle is oblivious to the threat I am now facing. “She was such a lovely vibrant engaging student and then about 2 months or so it was like a switch flipped” Mr. Humphrey I try to interject “She can't be here” I stamp my foot crossing arms over my chest. “She can't be here!!” I repeat a quiver in my voice. Before Mr. Humphrey could do my bidding my sister interjects herself “Enough Anna, please continue Mrs. Kyle” “Well like I was saying she became somewhat of a distraction overnight. All of my male students flock to her. All of the female students have an aversion to her. I just couldn't understand it, let's not even mention the things that were written about her on the bathroom walls. Then there is this: she hands my sister her android monstrosity. I hear my own voice from the phone “She is such a bully I wish someone would stand up to her for me I would like a man that stands up for their woman” The sound of students flowing from classroom to classroom follows then I hear my voice again “Watch this…Danny you love me right” of course he response “I don't believe you…you let Manda talk about me, threaten me and you didn't say anything” “She's a female” he responded “So I said do you love me or not” several moments pass before a girl is heard screaming and the sounds of teenagers fighting is paused by my sister. My sister looks up and Mrs. Kyle continues her thought “Her education plan was changed overnight and all her female teachers have been swapped with male teachers we were told she is being treated for defiant disorder specifically toward females of authority and this was a part of her treatment plan” 

Bobby hands the block back to Mrs.Kyle. Bobby says to the room “What are you going to do about this?” motioning to Mrs. Kyle and her phone. Mr. Humphreys remained silent. Interesting Bobby says under her breath. Mr. Humphrey “Why was she allowed to leave school grounds with a male whose name is not present on the list you had my father complete and returned to you?”. Mr. Humphreys remained silent, his face pinched a noticeable twitch present in his eye. This shouldn't be happening, this shouldn't be happening I think panic holding my heart. I reach out trying to grab onto Mr. Humphreys' mind to spur him into action. I hit a wall again and again and my sister turned to me “I will be taking her out today, and our father will be in contact shortly once alternative arrangements for her education have been made”. Mr. Humphreys starts “You, You” My sister points her perfectly manicured nail at him “You have a nosebleed” before turning and exiting the office with Christian in tow. With no other options, I follow my executioners to my doom. She knows I think to myself. We exit the building and take the long drive in silence. 

My mind drifts to the day everything changes. I remember when it all went wrong when I lost my best friend and it all started with Joseph. We were spending our week at the Regal Theater. My father allowed us to go with minimal and young guards so it was like we were alone. But we weren't from the moment we got there the 5”8” olive-skinned boy behind the counter met Jane's usual timid eyes. It was over. Jane barely paid attention to the Pixar movie we chose to feel some childlike wonder. She whispered to the group the whole time how handsome he was and how his hand lingered when he gave her her changes back. She wondered again and again about him until she abandoned us and went back to the concession stand to not return. Then it was Candy at the gym with Parker. She feigned ignorance of the cable machine so naturally a 6”1” tattooed gym rat came to her rescue. Ignoring me as I struggle not to kill myself lifting with no spot. Then it was Claire and Bonny and then I assumed I would be next. I imagine my guy to be 5”9” chocolate with broad shoulders and length dreadlocks. A lot like Christian but not Christian. But no, I was alone and I would have stayed alone if I didn't find her book. The sound of the car door closing brings me back to reality. I try to catch Christian's eye in the mirror before exiting with no luck. 

The door closed behind me, trapping me alone with her. I stood stock still with my back to the front door. I watch as Bobby descends the 3 steps that lead into our grand foyer, “So” she starts “ What did you do ?” My legs feel weak and the sound of my thundering heart fills my ears. "What??” I stammer; she steps out of her black pumps glances over her shoulder at me and says “You're just going to stand there” She continues further into the house past our newly renovated living room, down the hallway into the kitchen. I could hear the opening and closing of doors and still I stood there. I couldn't breathe my mind raced she couldn't know, how would she even know. “Anna” I hear her call my name and I follow it like a siren call start to my doom. My legs, the traitors they are, take me into the kitchen, and there I stand on the opposite side of the kitchen island. My sister observed me smugly over the top of her coffee cup. Are you ready to tell me what you did ? she said I just looked at her unsure of what to say, unsure of my next move. “Anna ?” she said and I responded sharp and fast “ I didn't do anything”.

I watched as she slammed her hand down onto a leather-bound book and pushed it in my direction. “Nothing ?” she says I remain silent “Anna what did you do?” my head begins to ache so badly white dots dance on the edges of my vision, my stomach starts to churn and I struggle to fight the bile that is threatening to rise. Tears now flowed down my face and sobs racked my body. I only wanted to be loved. I opened the aged pages of my grandmother's book quickly finding the pages marred with my bloody fingerprints and placed it back on the counter. She silently reads the offered pages. I took note of the slow raise of her eyebrows and the sigh that escaped her lips. She thumbs through the book scanning pages for something I wasn't privy to until she finds the other page that held my bloody prints. She read this information. She rose from her seat and made her way to my side of the kitchen island. Show me she said I obey and bring my hand up palm side facing her. A hateful laugh escapes her lips. My hands begin to shake violently, sweat beads form on my forehead as the smooth caramel of my hands and arms melt away revealing my blackened fingertips, thin black tendrils snake from my fingertips into my arm. She took a small step back and said almost to herself you must have been truly desperate. The tears started to pour out of my eyes deeping into a full-body sob and there my sister stood observing my pitiful state. I just wanted someone to love me.